Toilets remain unsexy in our eyes and most likely will get clogged. We provide a number of easy-to-follow steps to unclog your toilet.
Steps for Easy Toilet Unclogging
1. Test the Need for Unclogging Your Toilet, Before You Start
Before you start thinking about how to unclog a toilet, you need to determine if it’s needed. Primarily, the flush function of your toilet itself determines the difference between partial and complete toilet unclogging.
Check if the toilet drain works at all and the water level continues to fill to the brim of the toilet bowl. Then, the toilet obviously remains plugged until you do something about it.
Allow the water to drain for around 10 minutes or so, before addressing the problem. Most of the time, however, it drains very slow, indicating a partial clog. In this case, the toilet drains in about 2 minutes or so.
You usually do not notice the need for toilet unclogging until you flush it. So, if you notice a slower than normal drainage, it’s time to move on to the next step.
2. Your First Tool for Toilet Unclogging – The Old-Fashioned Plunger
The first tool you need to try to unclog your toilet is a plunger. Luckily, they remain inexpensive and available at any hardware store.
In most cases, the plunger will be all you need. Before you start plunging, lift the lid off of the tank and lift the flapper valve so it’s slightly open.
Add a cup or two of water into the toilet bowl. Do this to test if some of the water goes down to avoid flooding while plunging. You also need to learn the difference between a one-piece and two-piece toilet.
Make the plunge and make sure a folded rubber flange to get a better seal. Moreover, make the first plunge a gentle one. Since it fills the plunger with air and a forced push makes it, so you end up with water all over you!
Plus, you need to add some elbow grease. Then, the initial air goes out of the plunger bell with a nice seal going. This pumps the plunger in and out vigorously.
The force of the air going back and forth loosens whatever clogs the toilet. You have to wait for 15-20 plunges to get the clog unstuck. Do this quickly and clean your bathroom fast.
Lastly, put some towels around the bowl just in case there remain any spills during all that vigorous plunging. Make sure to clean the nasty things in your bathroom.
3. The Second Option for Toilet Unclogging – The Toilet Snake
If that doesn’t quite work, then your next option for toilet unclogging is to use a toilet snake.
The toilet snake is essentially a long, wire tube that you stick down your toilet that goes through the pipes until it encounters the clog. The wire coil has a corkscrew looking tip that you twist clockwise until it breaks apart the clog.
Next, it goes through the pipes or until it grabs hold. This goes for whatever contributes to the toilet unclogging so you can pull it out. The same applies to portable toilets as well.
The toilet snakes remain inexpensive. Also, it’s a good idea to have one handy for the rare, more tricky clogs. Now, let’s tackle that clog.
Simply twist the toilet snake into the toilet and down the pipes. Ultimately, until it either breaks up the clog or screws into the object so you can pull it out.
4. If Your Toilet Unclogging Fails – Toilet Surgery
Sometimes the toilet just won’t unclog. In this case, you’ll just have to perform toilet surgery. So how do you perform toilet surgery? We’re glad you asked.
This, like any surgery, will take several hours. You’ll want to turn off the water supply. You’ll then have to partially take apart the toilet and unscrew the toilet from the mounting ring.
After this, you should be able to see the clog. However, if you see that other drains in your home are plugged or water comes up through them, then the problem is probably deeper. In this case, you’ll need to call a plumber. If you did find the clog, then hooray! You’ve just learned to unclog your toilet.
When putting the toilet base back on the mounting ring, make sure to reseal it with new mounting bolts and new wax ring.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to unclog your toilet. Don’t be afraid to tackle your toilet. With this article in hand, you’ll be armed and ready to go.
You can do it. Please be confident.
Featured Image: CC by 2.0, Gary J. Wood, via Flickr
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